Frameless window screen tensioning device



Oct. 30 1951' J, RUST ET AL 2,573,223

FRAMELESS WINDOW SCREEN TENSIONING DEVICE Filed April 3, 1950 David 1 R14 JackJC.Jensen ATTOR N EYE:

Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UlT E srArs PATENT orFlcE Leandra, Galif., assignors to Ry-Lock Company, Ltd, San Leandro, Cali f., a corporation of Cali.-

fornia Application April 3, 1950, Serial No. 153,622

2 Claims.

The present invention provides, as a major object, an improved device adapted to be secured to a window sill in cooperation with an adjacen frameless window screen to tension the latter; the instant design being a modification of U. S. Patent No. 2,380,794.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frameless window screen tensioning device, which is convenient to initially install in place an a window sill, and readily removable from the sill when the screen is not in use, as in winter; nothing then remaining on the sill except a pair of inconspicuous screws.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frameless window screen tensioning device which is non-removahy attached, as a unit, to the bottom cross bar of the screen; a prime advantage of the device being that all of its parts are normally disposed in unitary relation, whereby when the screen is opened, or removed from the window, the parts of the device are not subject to loss.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a tensioning device, for the purpose described, which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture; the device, while simple in structure, being Strong and not subject to easy breakage even when under load to tension the screen. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable frameless window screen tensioning device, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device as in use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the sill bracket, detached.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the tension arm, detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the tensioning device, indicated generally at i, is adapted for use, usually in a transversely spaced pair, in connection with a frameless window screen 2 which includes a top cross bar 3 and a bottom cross bar 4.

The top cross bar 3 is removably secured to the header 5 of a window by suitable transversely 2 spaced attachment devices, one of which is indicated at 6.

The bottom cross bar 4 includes, along the lower edge portion thereof, a floating or vertically adjustable, U-shaped bottom strip '5 which bears, at its lower edge, on the sill 8.

Each screen tensioning device is constructed as follows:

The numeral 9 indicates, generally, a sill bracket; such sill bracket being comprised of a horizontal top plate Ill, sides II, and laterally oppositely projecting side or attachment wings I2 which extend at a' forward and downward slope to match the upper surface of the sill'8.

The sill bracket 9' is detachably secured to the sill 8 by a pair of screws l3 which engage through forwardly opening notches I4 in the front end portions of the side or attachment wings I 2.

The sill bracket 9 is formed, at its rear end, with an upstanding, relatively wide post l5, and a tension arm I6 projects forwardly from the upper end portion of said post; such tension arm including depending, longitudinal flanges I! to strengthen said arm. At its rear end the tension arm is is formed with an upturned hook 18 which engages, in relatively loose-play relation, through an aperture 19 in the post I5. This prevents forward longitudinal displacement of the tension arm it from the post l5, yet the latter serves as a rigid fulcrum on which the rear end of said arm is rockable.

At its forward end the tension arm I6 is secured to the bottom cross bar 4 by a downturned hook 20 which extends, in non-removable relation, through an aperture 2| in said bottom cross bar.

The arm [6 is adapted to be forcefully urged downwardly, rocking .on the aforementioned fulcrum, to tension the screen 2, and this is accomplished as follows:

An upstanding bolt 22 having a head 23 on its lower end projects upwardly through a bore 24 in the top plate I0, and thence extends further in an upward direction through an elongated slot 25 in the tension arm l6.

Above such tension arm the bolt has a wing nut 26 threaded thereon, and by tightening such wing nut by hand; i. e. running it downwardly on the bolt 22, the arm I6 is forcefully urged in a downward direction, rocking at its rear end on the post [5 as a fulcrum. As the forward end portion of the arm I6 is thus forced downwardly the screen 2 is placed under relatively high tension, maintaining it taut, smooth, and firmly against the blind stops (not shown) at opposite sides of the window frame.

In order to prevent escape of the bolt 22 from the sill bracket H, a holding tongue 21 is struck out of the top plate In of the sill bracket 9 and turned downwardly and under the bolt head 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to open th screen, or to remove said screen from the window, the wing nut 26 is first loosened and then the sill bracket II is freed from the screws [3 by sliding said bracket inwardly until such screws escape the forwardly opening notches [4. When the bracket II is detached from the screws l3, as above, the entire Or unitary tensioning device remains nevertheless in connection with the bottom bar 4 for movement therewith upon opening of the screen or its removal from the window.

The device is designed so that it may be manufactured and assembled with ease and economy; can be initially installed readily with a minimum of effort and without special tools; and, by virtue of its nom'emovable connectionas a unitwith the bottom cross bar 4, is not subject to accidental loss or misplacing when disconnected from said sill.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A tensioning device for a frameless window screen having a bottom cross bar, said device comprising a sill bracket disposed inwardly of the cross bar, an upstanding fulcrum member on -the inner end of the bracket, a substantially horizontal lever arm extending over the bracket, means non-removably but rockably attaching the lever arm at its inner end to the fulcrum member, means non-removably but rockably attaching the lever arm at its other end to the cross bar, an adjustable tensioning unit connected between the bracket and lever arm, and means to removably secure the bracket to the sill for detachment of the device as a unit.

2. A device as in claim 1, in which said bracket securing means comprises opposed sill engaging Wings on the bracket, each wing having a notch cut therein and opening toward the cross bar, and headed screws mounted in the sill and projecting through the notches with their heads engaging the wings about the notches.

DAVID JORDAN RUST. JACK H. JENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,672,896 Marshall June 12, 1928 2,318,955 Milnor May 11, 1943 2,380,794 Rust July 31, 1945 

